Business Law
Attorney Michael J. Persson represents small and medium-sized businesses, business owners, entrepreneurs, professional practices, closely held companies, and family-owned businesses throughout New Hampshire.
Business owners face legal issues at every stage of the business life cycle, from formation and governance to contracts, employment issues, ownership changes, succession planning, and the day-to-day operation of the business. Our goal is to provide practical, understandable legal advice that helps business owners protect their interests, reduce risk, and make informed decisions.
Business Formation and Structuring
Choosing the right structure is an important first step for any business. We assist clients with forming, restructuring, and maintaining business entities, including:
- Limited liability companies
- Corporations
- Partnerships
- Professional limited liability companies
- Nonprofit corporations
- Holding company and operating company structures
- Statutory conversions
- Mergers and reorganizations
We also prepare and review governing documents, including:
- LLC operating agreements
- Corporate bylaws
- Shareholder agreements
- Partnership agreements
- Buy-sell agreements
- Membership interest agreements
- Voting agreements
- Written consents and corporate records
A well-drafted business agreement can help define management authority, voting rights, transfer restrictions, buyout obligations, succession rights, and procedures for resolving future disputes.
Corporate Governance and Owner Relations
We assist business owners, managers, directors, shareholders, and members with governance matters, including:
- Management authority
- Voting rights
- Major decision provisions
- Fiduciary duties
- Ownership transfers
- Admission of new members or shareholders
- Removal and replacement of managers, directors, or officers
- Deadlock issues
- Disputes among owners
- Interpretation of operating agreements, bylaws, and shareholder agreements
- Annual meeting and consent documents
- Corporate record maintenance
Many business disputes can be avoided or reduced through clear governing documents and practical legal advice before problems arise.
Contracts and General Business Matters
Contracts are part of nearly every business relationship. We assist clients with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, including:
- Customer agreements
- Vendor agreements
- Service agreements
- Independent contractor agreements
- Employment agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
- Commercial leases
- Purchase orders
- Terms and conditions
- Settlement agreements
- Releases
- Consulting agreements
Our focus is on preparing contracts that are clear, enforceable, and appropriate for the client’s business needs.
Business Succession Planning
Business owners should have a plan for the future of their business. We assist clients with succession planning, including:
- Planning for death, disability, retirement, or withdrawal of an owner
- Transfers to family members
- Sales to employees or key managers
- Buy-sell arrangements
- Stock redemption agreements
- Membership interest transfers
- Shareholder and member exit planning
- Ownership transition planning
- Coordination with estate planning
A thoughtful succession plan can help preserve business value, reduce conflict, and provide clarity for owners, family members, employees, and business partners.
When the succession plan involves an actual sale, redemption, financing, or closing, those transaction documents may also be handled as part of our Commercial Transactions practice.
Outside General Counsel Services
Many small and medium-sized businesses need legal advice from time to time but do not need a full-time in-house attorney. We provide outside general counsel services to businesses that need practical guidance on legal issues as they arise.
These services may include:
- Contract review
- Employment and personnel issues
- Business disputes
- Collection issues
- Lease issues
- Vendor and customer disputes
- Corporate records
- Annual meeting and consent documents
- Ownership and management changes
- Risk management
- Referrals to legal specialists where appropriate
Our goal is to be a trusted legal resource for business owners who need timely, practical advice.
Practical Legal Advice for New Hampshire Businesses
Whether you are starting a business, updating governing documents, reviewing a contract, addressing an ownership issue, planning for succession, or dealing with a governance question, Chisholm Persson & Ball, P.C. can help.
Call us today at
603.528.2900.
